A MAN who allegedly broke into 26 schools across the North over a six-year period has been charged with 117 offences.

The 44-year-old Cairns man has been charged with 115 counts of enter premise with intent to commit and two counts of burglary.

Some of the 117 offences relate to alleged break-ins at 26 schools including Ingham State High School in 2008, Forrest Beach State School in 2010, St Peter’s Catholic Primary in Halifax in March and Kennedy State School in May this year.

Others relate to alleged break-ins at a Halifax supermarket, butcher and plumbing premises which occurred between May 10 and 11, and more in Cardwell and Kennedy dating back to 2009.

Halifax police Sergeant John Tantalo said the man was apprehended by Tablelands police on May 15 after a joint effort by a number of police in the Northern region.

Sgt Tantalo said the man was initially charged over some of his alleged crimes, before further investigations linked him to more.

The offences occurred around Northern and Central Queensland from Capella, north of Emerald, to the Daintree including the Atherton Tableland and surrounding areas.

Sgt Tantalo said the man was charged in relation to the Halifax offences on June 12.

“After the offences in Halifax, the community became uneasy about their safety and security in the township with numerous people seeking advice about their safety,” Sgt Tantalo said.

“A great deal of information was supplied to us from the community during our investigation which included studying CCTV footage from premises and key areas around the town subsequently eliminating possible local suspects.

“This demonstrates how police from various areas of the state do work together.”

The 44-year-old first appeared in Innisfail Magistrates Court on June 4, and was remanded in custody to appear in the Mareeba Magistrates Court on July 14.